Turret indexing mechanism



May 9, 1944,

H. Aw1 RUPPEL.

TURRET INDEXING' MECHANISM 2`sheetssheet 1 Filed May ll, 1940 Patented May 9, 1944 'rURaE'r INDEXING MECHANISM Harry'W. Ruppel, Cleveland, Ohio, as sgnolr to The Foote-Burt Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application May 11, 1940, `Serial No. 334,525

( C1. V29e-10) 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements generally in turret machines and specifically in multiple spindle turrets adapted to be intermittently rotated to index successive spindles into a working station, and to be translated axially between successive indexing movements.

l One object is to provide a new and improved high `speed spindle driving attachment substantially enclosed inside the turret.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical axial sectional view taken substantially along line I--I of Fig. 3 through a turret with an indexing mechanism embodying the features of my invention.

lFig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and showing a drive for a single rotary tool kspindle.

Fig. 4 is a plan development of the cam drum for reciprocating the turret.

Fig. 5 is afragmentary View vsimilar to Fig. 3 but .of amcdied form `showing a drive .for a plurality of rotary tool spindles.

The turret, which is .herein disclosedrfor purposes of illustration, is adapted for use in an automatic screw .machine of the type wherein a bar of stock is fed intermittently through a hol low spindle .and clamped in an automatic chuck, and is subjected to the successive `operationsof a plurality of cutting tools mounted on the turret. Referring more `particularly to the drawings, the machine comprises a frame Ill formed on the top'with .parallel spaced Ways II supporting a slide I2. A hollow cylindrical turret I3 is mounted .for rotation and axial reciproca/tion in a split guide sleeve .or bearing I4 forming part of a turret housing I5 rigid with the slide I2. The outer rend portion `of the housing I5 is closed .at the top by a cover I5, and is adapted to receive the drive end of the turret I3 projecting inwardly from the guide sleeve I4.

Both ends of the turret I3 are closed, the outer end wall I'I having an axial opening I8 normally closed by a removable plate I9 and through which access to the interior may be had, and the inner end wall 20 having an axial internal bearing sleeve 2|. .Formed in the forward end of the turret I3 are a plurality of parallel soskets or holes -22 located rin uniformly spaced relation about the axis of rotation, and adapted to Areceve and support the shanks or `spindles of a plurality of cutting tools, These holes are ,denned py tubular .enlargements formed .0n the inner periphery of the turret .1.3. and `open to the outer `end f ace lof the wall ITI. It will be understood that any suitable of tool ,holes 2.2 may Abe provided. and in the present ,instance .Six are shown. .Anvnumber o f tools up t0 and 0f diiferent .types .as `,regulilfid by the number, Sequerice `and 4irlatinte of the machine Operations to be performed on di v erent kinds of work pieces may b e mounted on the .turret I 3.

The turret lI3 has an axial tubular drive shaft 23 the inner end of which ,extends through. the sleeve 2.I and is secured thereto by a longitudinal key `24, Vvand vthe outer end `of which extends through ,the housing .L5 .into .a :tubular housing extension 25. Consequently, the drive shaft Ais connected to the turret ,13 for joint rotation and axial movement. V 'Splined to .the vouter end portion of .the turret shaft .23 for relative axial sliding movement is a b e'aring sleeve 26. This sleeve is rotatably .confined against `endwise Vmovement in a bearing 2,1 integral withal .vertical bracket on the turret slide I 2. VOne end ,of the sleeve 2 6 is formed with a peripheral ange 2 9, and the other end has a ced threadedextension 30 delining a shoulder 31. A `spurgear 32 is positioned on the .sleeve 2 5 between the bearing v2l and the ilange129, .and is ,rigidly connected to the latter. 'Threaded onto the `extension 350 of the sleeve 26 againstthe shoulder 3| is a nut 33. The gear 32 and the nut ,33 are 'in rotary bearing engagement with 'the opposite end faces of the sleeve 27, and serve to maintain the sleeve in axe ial position. Consequently, the -turret `I3 is adapted to be rotated by the gear 32, and lis free to reciprocate axially.- lRigidly secured to the end 4of the turret I3 about the shaft 2-3 is Va plate 3'4 having an annular flange 34a adapted to enter Mloosely Ainto an Aannular groove 33a in the adjacent face Vof fthe-nut The groove 33a and -the i Iiange A36a constitute a das'hpot for-damping the end ofthe return movement -of the turret-I3 into retracted position.

The meansf'orreciprocating-the :turret -I 3 comprises ia hollow cam drum :3 5 mounted `for rotation ion ka parallel Aaxis Within -the `frame 10. In its preferred fformpthecamldrum 35 Lis .supported at `its :ends lfor Vrotation zin depending :bearing brackets 'fonzthefslide 'Iv2, land `uis provided .with a continuous peripheraLcam groove 311 of suitable conguration. ,Mounted on :the .periphery .of the turret -Iz3 :and correspondingin .number and spacngtoithe holes 2-2 .are -.a.p1urality of cam rollers 3 8 adapted :for successive engagement with `the cam groove 31. The groove (see Fig. 4) has one section 39 with a lead adapted through engagement with any one of the rollers 38 to move the turret I3 in an advance stroke, another section 40 having a reverse lead for retracting the turret in a return stroke, and a peripheral dwell section 4I for maintaining the turret in retracted position. In this position, the turret I3is adapted to be indexed, and in the course of each indexing movement one roller 38 will leave the cam groove 31 and the succeeding roller will enter the groove. By reason of the dashpot 33a, 34a, heavy impact of the rollers 38 against the dwell end 4I of the cam groove 31 is prevented.l Secured within the cam drum 35 is an internal gear 42`which meshes with a pinion B3 ixed on asleeve shaft 44 journaled on a cam shaft 44a extending eccentrically through the drum. The tubular shaft y is connected through a worm and worm Agear drive 45 to a suitable source of power (not shown). s

The'gear 32 is adapted to be rotated periodically through av predetermined degree, by an intermittent motion device droperable bythe cam drum 35, to index the tool turret I3 once for each revolution of the drum and hence after each cycle of tool reciprocation. The turret' I3 is indexed in each step through the angular distance between consecutive tool holes 22'to locate the holes successively in the workingstation. In the present instance, the intermittent motion devicev 46 is of the Geneva type, comprising a star wheel 41 having a plurality of uniformly peripherally spaced arms, for example, three, formed in'one side respectively with open-ended slots or grooves 48. The wheel 41 is fixed onone end of a stub shaft 49 journaled in the bearing bracket 28. A gear 58 secured by a key and nut arrangement-I to the other Vendrof the 'shaft 43 meshes with the gear 32 to complete the drive relationship to the turret I3. vThe vcarn'drum 35, whichV constitutes the driver, carriesy a roller 52,'on one end face adjacent the periphery, which is arranged to engage one 'of the slots 48, and thereby'to rotate the Wheel '41 through one-third revolution each time thecam drum 'makes acomplete revolution. The angular phase relation between the cam groove 31 and the roller 52 about the axis of the drum 35 is such that'the turret I3 will be indexed while in retracted or'inoperative position. Hence, the dwell portion 4I .of thefcam groove 31 is in engagement with4 the operative Yindex roller 38 on the turret I3, and'positionedto receive the next succeeding roller. I

The turret I3 may be indexeda number of times between successive cutting cycles to skip any one orfmore tools or tool holes22 noterequired in a particular machining operation. This is accomplished by retracting the associated index roller or rollers 38 out ofthe range of the cam groove 31. In the present instance, each `roller 38 is mounted on a pin 53 slidable in a radial bore 54 in the turret I3. A set screw 54a, threaded through the end wall of the turret I3, engages -in a helical spline groove53a of.a comparatively long lead formed in the .periphery of the pin'53. vThe groove 53a is ofy the exact length required-for the axial range of movement of the pin 53, and preferably is formed at the very ends with locating recesses 53b adapted selectively to receive the end of the screwy 54a'. The -roller 38 canbe caused to recede into or project from the bore 54 merely by .loosening theV screw 54a, then turning, the pin 53 through the. range of the groove 53?, andv then retightening the screw. Assuming that one of the rollers 38 is retracted, this roller, when indexed into registra.- tion with the cam groove 31, will not establish a driving connection between the turret I3 and the cam drum 35. Consequently, the cam drum will rotate through one revolution Without causing reciprocation of the turret. Normal operation will be resumed after the second indexing movement.

The specific turret indexing mechanism is being covered in my copending divisional application Serial No. 461,570, iiled October l0, 1942.

Rotation of both the work and the tool is lishing a rotary drive from an individual motor 55 rthrough the turret shaft 23 and turret I3 to a drill spindle mounted in one oi the holes 22.

Y This means comprises a tubular shaft 58 extending axially through and rotatable in the turret shaft 23. A coupling sleeve 51 with internal axial splines is rigidly secured to the outer end of 'the shaft 58, and is seated for rotary bearingl engagement in a counterbore 58 in the outer endy Extending through the coeu-v pling sleeve 51 in driving engagement therewith and into the shaft 53 for relative axial reciproof the shaft 23.

cation is a splined drive shaft 59. This shaft projects from the casing extension 25 through a central opening E8, and is journaled in and ex-l tends through a bearing 6I on a bracket 32 supporting the motor 55 and mounted on the outerA end of the slide I2. A gear 64 is keyed to the outer end oi the shaft 58, and is connected through an adjustable idler gear 65 to a gear- 66 on the shaft of the motor 55. and 35 are suitably enclosed by `a housing 81 on the bracket 82. Thus, the motor 551s connected to drive the shaft 58 entering the turret I3 in all positions of axial movement of the latter.

The inner end of the shaft 55 iscadapted'to be connected through speed change gearing,

to a rotary tool spindle 59. To this end, a central pinion 18 is threaded ontothe inner end of.

the shaft 53. The pinion has an axial hub 1I engaging a shoulder 12 on the shaft 56, and is spaced from the inner end of the turret shaft' 23 by an interposed bearing washer 13. It will be seen that the spline coupling sleeve 51 and the pinion 18 serve to coniine the shaft 56 against axial movementin. the turret shaft 23.

A bracket or carrier disk 14v is keyed to the. inner end of the turret shaft 23, and is secured;

in position against the inner end of the shaft sup'- porting sleeve 2| by a nut 15. Hence, the disk 14 and the shaft shoulder 18 engaging the opposite end of the sleeve serve to anchor the turret-y shaftf23 against endwise movement relative to the turret I3. Cluster gears 11 and 18 are free.-

ly rotatable as a unit on a bushing 19 carried by thev disk 18.

part of a self-contained spindle unit vor struc. ture 88 removably inserted into the outer end. of the hole 22, and secured in position by a suit-.-

The gears 64,'.

Preferably, the bushing 19fisV secured in ixed position onthe shank of a bolty the bracket or carrier disk. of J'Fig; 3 Sis lre-` placed ,by av diskfBB-.havng two spaced eccentric mounting bosses 93 and 9|. Each of the spindles 69 has a drive pinion 82. The cluster of gears 'l1 and 18 of Fig. 3 is replaced by two single .gears 92 and 93 removably mounted respectively on the bosses 9!) and 9| and meshing with the central pinion It. The one gear 92 is disposed between and meshes-at oppositegsides with the pinions 82 for two adjacent spindles 69. When four rotary spindles 69 are provided, the gear 93 is similarly arranged to mesh with the pinions 82 of the two additional spindles. two or four spindles E39 may be driven from the gearing which is fully enclosed within the turret I3, and to which access may be had for purposes of selective adjustment through the opening I8 in the forward end of the turret.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine tool, in combination, a support, a hollow turret mounted on said support for rotary movement and for axial reciprocation and having a plurality of parallel spindle holes opening to one end and` annularly arranged in uniformly spaced relation about the axis of rotation, means for rotating said turret to index said holes successively into a working station, a plurality of rotary spindles respectively mounted in certain of said holes, a power drive shaft extending axially into the other end of said turret, gear means mounted entirely within said turret for establishing a drive connection between said shaft and said spindles, said gear means including a train of speed change gears, and a removable closure in said one end of said turret for alfording access to said speed change gears.

2. In a machine tool, in combination, a support, a hollow turret mounted on said support for rotary indexing movements and for axial reciprocation, and having a plurality of parallel spindle holes opening to one end and annularly arranged in uniformly spaced relation about the axis of rotation of said turret, an axial tubular index shaft xed to said turret and opening' .through and projecting from the other end of said turret, means for reciprocating said turret, means for rotating said index shaft to index said holes successively into a working station, a second shaft extending coaxially through and rotatably anchored in said index shaft, a drive shaft journaled on said support and extending axially into slidable spline engagement with the outer end of said second shaft so as to establish a drive connection therewith in all axial positions of reciprocation of said turret, a drive motor on said support, speed change gearing connecting said motor to said drive shaft, a rotary spindle unit mounted in one of said holes and having a coaxial drive pinion, and a train of gears mounted within said turret for driving said spindle and including one terminal gear xed on the inner end of said second shaft and another terminal gear meshing with said pinion.

Thus,

ciprocation,-and having a plurality of parallel'` spindle holes opening to one end and annularly arranged in uniformly spaced relation about the axis of rotation vof said turret, an axial tubular index shaft fixed to said turret and openin'gl through and projecting from the other end` of said turret, means for reciprocating `said turret, means for rotating said index shaft to dex said holes successively into a working station, a second shaft extending coaxiallythrough androtatably anchored in said index shaftpa drive shaft journaled on said support and extending axially into slidable spline engagement with the outer end of said second shaft so as to establish a drive connection therewith in all axial positions of reciprocation of said turret, a drive motor on said support, speed change gearing connecting said motor to said drive shaft, a plurality of rotary spindles mounted in said holes and connected at their inner ends to coaxial drive pinions, and a train of gears mounted Within said turret for driving said spindles and including one terminal gear fixed on the inner end of said second shaft and a plurality of terminal gears meshing respectively with said pinions.

4. In a machine tool, in combination, a support, a hollow turret mounted on said support for rotary movement and for axial reciprocation and having a plurality of parallel sockets opening to one end and annularly arranged in uniformly spaced relation about the axis of rotation, means for rotating said turret to index -said sockets successively into a working station, a rotary spindle unit mounted in one of said sockets for selective longitudinal adjustment, and supporting a spindle, a sleeve journaled in said socket in axial splined engagement with the inner end of said spindle, a power drive shaft extending axially into said turret, and gear means mounted entirely within said turret for establishing a drive connection between said shaft and said sleeve.

5. In a machine tool, in combination, a support, a hollow rotary turret mounted on said support for axial reciprocation and having a longitudinal tool hole opening eccentrically to one end, means for reciprocating said turret, a shaft extending axially into said turret and movable therewith, means for driving said shaft in all positions of reciprocation of said turret, a

rotary spindle unit removably secured in and projecting from the outer end of said hole and having a spindle shaft, an intermediate shaft removably secured in the inner end of said hole and having an axially separable drive connection with said spindle shaft, a pinion on said intermediate shaft, a pinion on the inner end of said first mentioned shaft, a bracket secured to said turret for rotation therewith and having an eccentric boss, and a cluster of gears removably mounted for rotation on said boss and establishing a. drive connection between said pinions.

6. In a machine tool, in combination, a support, a hollow rotary turret mounted on said support and having a tool hole opening thereto, a drive shaft extending axially into said turret, means for driving said shaft, a rotary spindle unit removably secured in and projecting from the outer end of said hole and having a spindle shaft, an intermediate shaft removably secured in the inner end of said hole and having a sepa- -3. in a machine tool, m combination, suprable drive connection with said spindle shaft, a pinion on said intermediate shaft, a pinion on the` inner end of said first mentioned shaft, av

and projecting from the vouter ends of said holes and each having a spindle shaft, an intermediate shaft removably secured in the inner end of each hole and having a, separable drive connection with the associated spindle shaft, a pinion on each intermediate shafafa. pinion on the inner end of said first mentioned shaft, a bracket se-..

cured to said turret for rotation therewith, and a gear removably mounted for rotation on said bracket and establishing drive connections from the pinion on said drive shaft to said pinions on said intermediate shaft.

i HARRY W. RUPPEL. 

